Bembridge Rally 1st-2nd July 2006

Report by Peter Lowry, Photos by Brenda & Don Harvey

Summertime and the weather is fine, fish are jumping and the cotton is high, well the forecast was just fab.

The Irish area officer (my Dad) had decided to come and visit for a long weekend, so it looked like a boy’s weekend to this lovely harbour at the eastern end of the Isle of Wight for our rally.

Jenny, Mum and Robert wanted to stay at home and just relax in the garden and sunbathe and soak in the paddling pool. The wind was easterly, about a 3, so after a nice beat down the Solent with the rising tide in our favour, we arrived into Bembridge to find several boats had arrived and just the right time to just touch the bottom of the beach along side Harlequin who kindly took our bow anchor up the beach.

As the remainder of the fleet arrived we rowed around in dinghies and visited all other boats and caught up with old friends and met some new, many of us went for a swim: the water was 18 degrees.

The evening started with a glass of Pimms on the beach (Pimms bucket kindly supplied by Christina from Ard Righ (Thanks). We were booked into the Bembridge sailing club for a meal for 1930hrs, again the club did us proud. We finished up at the club about 2130hrs and a few retired for the evening and some had a night cap or 2, very kindly supplied by Shemar (again thanks for your hospitality).

After a very pleasant and peaceful night we awoke again to glorious weather. It had been decided to have a Bbq breakfast to commence at 0900hrs which duly happened. As we waited for the tide to lift us we pottered and said our farewells and carry on for home.

A great weekend had by all!

Boats on the rally were: Harlequin, Shiraz, Many Moons, Calypso, Macoma, Vol-au-vent, Nosey Parker, Ard Righ, Cleo, Breeze, Shemar, Zephyr, Claire Louise, Stampede

A sample of the many pictures taken to record a rally of SSA members at Bembridge with dinner at the Bembridge Sailing Club.